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How To Impress Employers Virtually While Practising Social Distancing

Stuck at home looking for a job?

As of the writing of this article, most of you will be like me. Looking at your computer screens in your pyjamas, stuck at home, looking forward to the end of this challenging time.

As if job searching wasn’t hard enough, we now have to do it without being able to meet employers face to face. This article is here to help you stand out in a virtual job searching world and wow potential employers while still practising social distancing.

Although this article is written because of how COVID-19 is affecting everyone in Malaysia right now, all the points mentioned will still be useful when this blows over (hopefully soon) as more of the hiring process gets digitized.

Take the Elevator Pitch to the top!

We all know that the golden ticket to a job is a CV, but how do you turn yours into a first-class golden ticket? Start by adding an elevator pitch at the top of your CV! An elevator pitch is basically a summary that people use to quickly introduce and “sell” themselves at the same time.

Imagine yourself in an elevator with an employer and you have 30 seconds to impress. Show them:

Who you are

What experience you have

What you’re interested in and

Most importantly, get the employer wanting to FIND OUT MORE!

Employers receive hundreds of CVs at a time so you want to catch their attention in the shortest amount possible.

Click here if you want to read more about how to write a great elevator pitch.

Video Cover Letters are the future!

Cover letters used to be a thing of the past because they don’t provide any more information than what is already available in your CV. BUT with greater and easier access to cameras and video editing tools, cover letters are a great way to stand out. With the current movement restrictions put in place to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 spread, employers will be more selective with who they want to hire, and sharing a video cover letter will give you a competitive edge if done well.

Unless you’re a professional videographer or editor, employers are not expecting the next Best Oscar Film from you. All you need is to take note of these simple details:

Use a decent quality phone camera or even your laptop camera.

Sit in a well-lit area and show yourself clearly.Remember to double-check the background to make sure it’s tidy. Also, check that you haven’t accidentally cropped the top of your head in the shot.

Make sure the audio is clear and audible.You want to make sure that every word you say can be heard. Ask other people at home to be quiet while you record, or go into a quiet room.

Dress to impress.You don’t need to put on a full suit but make sure that you do look decent and professional. After all, you want to leave a good impression.

Keep it to a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of 60 seconds.

Psst… Tips 1-4 will also come in handy if you have a virtual interview!

Take your time to practice before filming and don’t worry about making mistakes, you can always re-record it! Keep it simple, informative and leave the employer wanting to know more.

To help job seekers effectively job hunt digitally, WOBB has implemented video cover letters into our platform! You can now impress employers easily by recording your pitch and increase the chances of you landing your dream job.

Feel free to give it a try here !*This feature is only accessible after you upload an approved CV and only available on a desktop/laptop.

Polish your first-class golden ticket!

As mentioned at the very start, your CV is your golden ticket to landing a job so you do want to pay some attention and perfect it!

Save your CV in PDF form.PDF documents can be opened on both phones and computers, and reduce the likelihood of your words disappearing or getting misaligned.

Proofread your CV.Typos and spelling mistakes are very amateur mistakes that can imply a lack of attention for detail.

Link any portfolios or evidence of work that you have in your CV.By providing these links, you’re able to keep your CV simple and concise whilst allowing employers to find out more if they’re interested. You’ll be able to showcase more with less mess!

Be informed and be smart!

With the recent order for Restricted Movement, most office premises will be shut down for some time. Interviews may or may not be delayed depending on the type of industry you are applying for. Here are some things that you should take note of whilst job searching in this period to stay safe.

1. Stay healthy and monitor yourself.This might seem like an obvious tip but you should remember that you won’t be able to focus on job searching or attend any interviews if you are sick. Practice good hygiene and wash your hands often. Staying active and keeping yourself occupied with beneficial activities like learning new skills whilst indoors is an important step for both your physical and mental health. You’ll also have to worry less if you need to leave your homes. Do your part in ensuring that the virus does not get passed on.

2. Reschedule interviews if you are sick.It’s important to keep not only your own wellbeing in mind but also others. Some people might be afraid that rescheduling an interview might ruin your chances at landing the job, but it is a responsible move that will garner the respect of an employer. What you should do:

Inform the employer as early as possible.

Show appreciation for the opportunity.

Be very clear with the reason for rescheduling.

Express your willingness to have an interview when you’re better or in another shape of form.

3. Keep up to date with the news and follow any orders.At the end of the day, everything we do right now is to ensure the health and safety of our country (even the world!). Update yourself periodically on what is happening around you and avoid high-risk areas.

Lastly, keep calm and carry on!

Both job searching and the virus can be scary. But if you keep calm, analyse the situation and adapt, you can face any problems that come at you! Just because you’re physically stuck at home, doesn’t mean you can’t rise to the top on the Internet!